Author: Thomas Eckert

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Stories In Focus

Purple and Gold Week Spot

Charismatic Hosts and Original Acts Win Over the Crowd

There is a definite formula to SPOT. Like a long-running TV show, we come back to it each semester to be reminded of things we all like through means that become more familiar each year. We know, walking into the building, that we will hear jokes about “Ring by Spring,” housing, and Sodexo because these are things we all observe as Houghton students. They are artifacts of Houghton pop culture. Watching American popular culture get blended up with Houghton community has a certain charm to it.

This iteration was one of the more consistently exceptional productions I’ve seen in my three years at this school. The key word here is “consistency.” Former SPOTs have consisted of a slew of weaker acts, with strong acts peppered in between. This semester started strong and stayed funny throughout.

SPOT1_LukeLauer
I sat in the balcony, a bit neurotic for taking notes during SPOT. All around me, people were Snapchatting, Instagramming, and “Yakking” as the heavy beat accompanied the countdown to showtime. I saw a lot of selfies being taken.

Connor Vogan and Matt Dean had great charisma as they entered and began the show. They were skilled at hosting without putting too much focus on themselves. They glued the acts together in a way that was memorable without being narcissistic. That takes nuance and it is exactly what hosts should do.

The choice to begin the night with Mike Kerr’s love song to squirrels was a great one. He held the joke until the moment when you almost expected him to be earnest. The reveal was a well executed head to the show.

Connor and Matt did a great job of developing original bits that involved students and faculty. Houghton Superlatives were clever and delivered with great comedic timing. The Minute to Win It challenge was a fantastic feat of human athleticism with high anxiety provided by the tick-tocking of the band. SPOT Hashtags is a bit I hope returns in the future, with its highlight being the phrase “#WombMate” from the Webb twins. Midway through the show, Shelly Hillman was able to enact revenge on her boss, Dr. Plate by giving him a pie in the face.

SPOT3_LukeLauerAs happens each semester, President Mullen was involved in a skit. She and her husband Paul Mills performed in a lip sync battle against Professors Johnson and Gaerte. The crowd elicited a choral “aww” as the proverbial Houghton couple synced to “A Whole New World” from Aladdin. The crowd ultimately gave the win to Johnson and Gaerte who performed “No Air”. The purple and gold competitions for the night ended with an egg roulette challenge between JL Miller and Jason Stephens. An all too quick win by Jason gave the prize to the purple team for the night.

Throughout the show, a few acts and common themes stuck out to me. I firstly think that recognition needs to be given to the trio of Malcolm Bell, Jerbrel Bowens, and Marc Legrand who made each transition between acts incredibly smooth. People were dancing in their seats instead of impatiently waiting for the next act to be ready which has cursed some SPOTs of the past.

An oddity that stuck out to me was that only one video was shown during the course of the night. It was a hilarious parody of MTV Cribs that mimicked the editing of that show perfectly, but the majority of acts were on stage. That being said, there was a real trend of acts being accompanied by slides on the projector. The Yearbook bit and “Upperclassmen” gave the audience two subjects to look at and ultimately made the performances funnier and more interesting.

The night ended with an ensemble dance to “Move Your Body” by Beyoncé. SPOT wasn’t too long or too short. It was consistent and held a good mood throughout the night. There is some argument to be made that the criterion of parody for the acts was too limiting, but I think it resulted in a better show in this case. When we gather to enjoy comedy, we ought to gather around some familiar totem.

We have for many years needed something to hold us together as a community. As our sources of entertainment have become more diverse, it’s nice to know there are still instances of common culture for us to form around. That is the purpose of SPOT, I think. Not simply a night of enjoyment, but a common Houghton event that spurs on conversation and an occasional controversy. It’s a lighthearted way of lampooning our decision to spend four years freezing with 900 other people, at the same time appreciating each other in our unity.

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News

Lack of Theatre Life on Campus Draws Attention

There are no plays planned for this semester at Houghton. The school’s theater clubs have experienced a dearth of interest from the student body. This loss of momentum is a result of several factors, yet there is movement on the part of the faculty to breathe life into Houghton theater.

Wynn Horton, ’15, has been deeply involved with theater in his time at Houghton. He expressed his concern, “2014-2015 is the first of several years at Houghton in which there has been no theatre. We have had a plethora of plays and musicals over the last 4 years and now hit a drought.”

904252_10151660104873968_1464994562_oThere are two active theater groups on campus: Encore and Houghton Musical Theater Players. Formerly, the Shakespeare Players put on works by their namesake before being subsumed into Encore. These groups have faced an economic challenge over the past few years as the cost of copyright has become greater than net revenue from the production.

With the reduction of the student body, there are fewer students participating in productions though the overall percentage of students interested in the performing arts may not have changed. Encore president Sarah Wright views the problem as a, “vicious circle.” As a result of fewer students participating in productions, other students know less about the productions because they don’t permeate as much of the campus population, thus even fewer students participate in later productions. This cycle runs parallel to another. The lack of funding for the plays means that they cannot have as high a quality as they would otherwise. This results in a lack of attendance, and therefore a lack of funding for further performance ventures. The solution might be to change ticket prices, however, if they are raised, the audience will shrink. If they are lowered, the overall revenue might shrink as well.

It is difficult to find a clear answer to breaking this cycle. It may not be able to raise itself up from its current status without outside help. Encore has made several efforts to increase its appeal to students. They have held an activity themed workshop on stage make-up that they had hoped would be joined by other theater-centric workshops. The low attendance of the first workshop cancelled any further plans of this kind. They have also looked into performing smaller plays, such as one-acts. Professor Wardwell suggested they participate in a 72-hour “Theater Blitz” wherein a play is written, cast, and performed in 3 days. The size of these productions make them a better fit for the present interest and funding. Their short term involvement means students aren’t required to commit as much time to them.

These efforts have been matched by further challenges. Theater groups have had trouble renting spaces to practice and even perform plays, relegating them to classrooms until opening night. The Encore Theater Group recently had to relocate their props and equipment from the building now occupied by Addie’s Ice Cream. The group understands the need for the move, but found the replacement location provided by the college meant having to throw away half of their props due to size constraints.

There is a chance that the dry spell of theater interest could be part of a larger cycle. Horton thinks that it parallels other Houghton activities, “It makes sense that one group of students had the momentum to pull off large theatre productions while others don’t. In the same way, other student organizations or campus events go through similar ebb and flow patterns. For example, the student government’s presence and interest in it comes and goes, SPOT and its talent/entertainment value comes and goes, and clubs like the Pro-life Club or Math Clubs come and go depending on whether or not there are students to lead them.” Horton said, “Theatre clubs are the same, if no one steps up or there’s no interest, then there’s no theatre. The only difference is, when musicals and plays have become almost habitual – people notice when they’re missing. I’d love to see someone make theatre happen again.”

Professor Susan Lipscomb wants to encourage a rekindled interest in Houghton productions through faculty intervention. She, along with professors Gaerte and Wardwell are working towards bringing a director as resident on campus for the upcoming three years. The director would come and spend four weeks working solely on producing a play alongside Houghton students. The cost of this residency would be paid for by an application of the Van Gorden Fund, which is dedicated to nurturing English, theater, and the arts. The three-year pilot will be vetted for a continuation of the program in subsequent years.

Professor Wardwell sees theater as an important component to life on a college campus. In his view, theater serves a human, not just educational, benefit. Horton agrees, “The stage is a medium that can truly be used as a platform or arena for conversations of all kinds and of all temperatures – perhaps even some of the edgy conversations Houghton has been avoiding over the last few years? Acting also encourages those on stage to truly put themselves in the shoes of others, and sometimes even legitimize estranged people groups or taboo topics. Regardless of theatre’s social value, it is entertaining, and we all know Houghton can never have enough of that during the cold winter months.”

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News

Houghton Hosts Cross Country Championships

This past Saturday, Nov. 15, Houghton College hosted the National Christian College Athletic Association Cross Country Nationals. Altogether, 375 men and women participated from both divisions 1 and 2 of the NCCAA. Schools came from all over the country, including Dallas and California.

The morning of the race was snowy and 25ºF at the course marked off on the Field of Dreams. At 10 a.m., the women’s 5000 meter race began. With the sound of the gunshot, 180 women took off in stampede across the field, later funneling into a narrower route through the woods and around the outside of the field.

Thomas EckertOf these 180 women, seven were runners from Houghton’s team: Cara Davenport, Christel Enriquez-Fisher, Joanna Friesen, Ella Hotchkiss, Rachel Hummel, Judith Marklin, and Katrina Relyea. Friesen, a sophomore who placed first among Houghton runners and 25th overall, commented on how she felt about the run, “The race on Saturday was different, it’s easy to find excuses in difficult weather but sometimes you’ve just got to race tough because in cross country there’s always variables to negotiate.” She appreciated the support from friends, family, and community members. “Fans cheering us on really makes the race for me,” she said.

“The team that made it to nationals, for the girls, was great… It’s very strange to be at the end of the season; we’ve been running and training all summer and up until this weekend. It was sweet to end the season at home with a lot of home fans and the home course advantage of snow!” said Friesen.

Following the women’s race, the men’s 8000 meter started at 11 a.m. A similar scene of stampeding followed another gunshot. 195 men participated in the almost 5 mile race. Their course was carved out similarly to the women’s, but with an additional lap around the Field of Dreams. Luke DeBoer was the sole representative of Houghton’s men’s cross country in this race. He ran a 28:48.4. At 5:48 per mile, this sets a personal record for the runner.

This was the first time that Houghton has ever hosted the NCCAA Cross Country Nationals, this year has also seen a new coach for cross country, Patrick Hager, take on this responsibility. According to Hagar, hosting the championships took a lot of work, including bi-monthly meetings, which started this summer. “We have a lot to work on next year, but I would say this event was a huge success. We got a lot of compliments on our facilities, housing options, dining hall food, and the cross country course,” he said. “I got the vibe from the NCCAA coaches and administration that they’re excited to come back next year.” Overall, Hagar said there were a few unexpected events that were not detrimental to the event, but set them back a bit. There were also administrative issues that he believes will be easily fixed next year.

Hagar felt that the teams’ performances were up and down. He said, “Some of our women performed very well, but our top group was plagued with a few acute injuries that hurt us.”

However, in the end he was proud of how the athletes performed. “All you can hope for, as a coach, is that your athletes run their best the last time they toe the line for the season. Luke did this in some tough conditions. I knew he was ready for it.”

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Stories In Focus

RVER Group Reimagines Houghton

Students want more to do in Houghton. Each class that has passed through these grounds has made the same complaint, year after year: “There’s nowhere to go, nothing to do.” The RVER Group knows this. They are working to change it.

Courtesy of Keystone Associates, Architects, Engineers and Surveyors, LLC, Binghamton, NYRVER, pronounced “river”, stands for Regional Ventures in Economic Revitalization. This board of community members started off as the Houghton Group, but soon expanded out of the college and into the whole of the town. Said Phyllis Gaerte, Chair of the Houghton Group, “Our concerted effort to include our local, county, and state elected officials in our discussions has been instrumental in us getting before the right people that can offer support and help us move forward.  We have developed a great working relationship with our county development and planning team. In the past few months, we have had the opportunity to meet with our Congressman, Tom Reed, and Senator, Catherine Young, as well as our county legislators.”

The idea for a group that would facilitate economic growth in Houghton was spurred on by the construction of the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex (KPAC). The building is the largest of its kind in the Southern Tier. With a capacity of 6,000, it presents opportunities to host live artists, trade shows, and athletic events that Houghton never previously had the means to hold.

These opportunities create traffic. Where there is traffic, there needs to be businesses ready to feed, clothe, and entertain the people coming into town. This is where the RVER Group sees potential for commercial growth in Houghton. “The work of the RVER Group has the potential to transform both the look of Main Street in Houghton and at the same time increase access to retail services, products, and other conveniences in Houghton. Students, parents, children, and local residents all stand to benefit from our efforts,” said Professor Ken Bates. Bates is one member of the RVER Group who is also a part of the Houghton College faculty.

Having only been established a year ago, the Group has already made some progress in town. They brought Tracy’s Delights on board from Tracy’s original location in Rushford. They also supported her and her husband, John, to add a full floral service to their store. They met with Addie’s Ice Cream, when Addie came to them, interested in adding a location in Houghton. The Group helped them in locating a space, providing work teams to help with renovations, and advertising in Houghton. This past Summer, the Group also worked to bring the Genesee Rapids to town. Although students weren’t here to see the Rapids, the Group had a great success in drawing crowds and advertising through their presence.

While the RVER Group does have some long-term goals in mind, they are working to accomplish four in the short-term. Said Bates, “The four top priorities of the RVER Group today are funding and then building the new town park; designing, funding, and constructing a new streetscape look to Main Street; building a convenience store/gas station in town; and locating a national chain fast food store in Houghton”

The Group plans to build a town park behind the firehall parking lot. The park would be adjacent to the field of dreams and have access to the Genesee River. The plans came about from Caneadea’s desire to build a park in their town, but not having the land to facilitate it. Houghton has agreed to give a plot of land to the town if they get a grant from the state government to build it. The Group hopes to see the park become a year-round attraction. Connecting with the Genesee Valley Greenway Trail that stretches from Rochester to just south of Mt. Morris, the park shows potential for hiking, skiing, and snowshoe trails.

A key part of the revitalization of Houghton is making the area along Route 19 more attractive and easily accessible as a place to spend time. This involves improving several aspects of the streetscape. Plans have been drawn up by Keystone Associates that would replace current lighting with more and better lamp posts that use LED light bulbs, expand the sidewalk through the whole commercial area, install bike racks and flower plantings, and add stamped-concrete crosswalks. The crosswalks are being installed in hopes to encourage motorists to slow down and make the town safer to walk through. The Group has also looked into adorning the street with seasonal decorations to make the town more inviting.

The biggest public project the RVER Group is working on is bringing a gas station and convenience store into town. This is a very important part of the group’s overall plan to improve commerce. As people come into Houghton for big events, having a local gas station will be vital to facilitating traffic. While the gas station will be useful for students, the convenience store provides an opportunity to buy snacks and necessities at all times of the day unlike the Campus Store, and without the trip to Fillmore Dollar General.

There are two central obstacles to establishing a gas station in town. The first is that because of our close proximity to the Genesee River, there is a lot of regulation by the state on underground gas tanks. The second is finding a gas company whose convenience store is willing to forfeit its liquor license as is the will of the College. The Group has ideas on how to overcome both of these in time.

The fourth major project of the RVER Group is currently under lock and key. They are looking to bring a national fast food chain into the town, but are not currently saying with which franchise they are talking.

The future looks bright for the RVER Group’s work in Houghton. They have been impressed with the community’s willingness to lend a hand in all their endeavors. “I am encouraged by the growth we have seen in just over a year and want to thank our team of volunteers who are committed to seeing the momentum continue,” said Gaerte. Their investment of time and work has already begun to improve the community. That’s their one true goal: improve the community and everyone prospers – financially, as well as communally.

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Stories In Focus

Album Review: ‘Alvvays’ Reaching Towards Joy

Alvvays’ self-titled debut album is a breath of cool, turquoise summer music. The band hails from Toronto, featuring lead singer Molly Rankin, keyboardist Kerri MacLellan, lead guitarist Alec O’Hanley, bassist Brian Murphy, and drummer Phil MacIssac. For most of Alvvays, the mix is a smooth surface of keyboard, bass, and drums behind a conversation between Rankins’ vocals and O’Hanley’s guitar. The album evokes a feeling of heartbreak. Rankin’s dreamy and childlike voice narrates the breakdown of her relationship.

Beginning with “Adult Diversion”, a jovial melody masks lament. Rankin wants to reach out towards joy. Specifically, a life with her unnamed love interest. She’s not sure how to act around him or enter into his life. “Is is a good time?/ Or is it highly inappropriate?” She seems to presuppose her failure. But then, at 2:15, the guitar picks up. It’s hopeful, she’s gotten closer to what she wants, yet still worries about failure, rounding back through the melancholy chorus.

“Archie, Marry Me”, is the sunniest of the tracks. It could be a summer pop hit. Rankin offers requests and promises to her lover. “Hey, hey, marry me, Archie!” she sings, hooking your ear each time. Despite her best attempts, he won’t consider her that way. Nonetheless, the song keeps up a happy tone throughout. This is the height of their relationship and she enjoys every minute of their time together.

Alvvays_amazon.comArchie fades into a drum beat that leads in “Ones Who Love You”. This track is the first instance of musical tone following the somber lyrical mood. Slower, Rankin has pulled away from us. She’s distant and beginning to recount her troubles. Her voice is drenched in reverb as she sings, morose yet defiant: “When the wheels come off,/ I’ll be an astronaut./ I won’t be lost in space./ I will be skipping rocks.” She knows that nothing will ever feel perfect, but in accepting that sadness, she finds peace.

Abruptly, the emptiness is broken by the warm guitar in “Next of Kin”. She’s remembering the better moments of the end of the relationship, listing them out with a smile. However, things aren’t all rosy. “If I knew you couldn’t swim,/ we would never have gone in,” she smirks, telling the story of her lover’s metaphorical drowning. She resolves to not take the blame for his reluctance. “I left my love in the river.” It was his fault. He couldn’t keep up with her. In that light, she can speak of him without anger and reminisce about the mix of good and bad that comes with true relationship.

A distant electric strum begins “Party Police”. The sun is setting. Rankin is no longer talking to us. She’s speaking more directly to this man. Expressive, what she’s telling him is new information. Becoming desperate, her memories have rekindled desire. She begs him, “You don’t have to leave./ You could just stay here with me.” She hurts everyday when she sees him apart from her. The song reaches an emotional peak at 3:20 with a beautiful voice crack from Rankin. The song begins to tumble forward. “If you don’t want to,/ you don’t have to,” she admits, defeated. For the last six seconds of the track, the guitar takes over in a distorted hum. It’s anxiety inducing. Like a wave washing over you, it feels both refreshing and terrifying.

“The Agency Group”, pulls you out of the ocean, gasping. It kicks off with a sugary surf guitar sound and driving beat. Rankin comes into the track, almost monotone. “I’ll admit, I’ve been losing sleep./ Rifling through your toxicology.” Though her voice remains so dry throughout the song, she’s able to compel emotion with the help of a strong and rambling guitar. After each line she sings, O’Hanley digs into his instrument. The effect is that of Rankin holding in her emotions, yet feeling torn to pieces inside. “And you whisper you don’t think of me that way./ When I mention you don’t mean that much to me.” As the song ends, Rankin’s voice fades out, mixing evenly with O’Hanely’s guitar.

A new sound is present on the album in “Dives”. MacLellan begins the track with a melancholy synth. Rankin is almost mumbling now. You can barely understand her over the background music. She’s just talking to herself. Then, her voice rises into, “I’ve been patient for a long time/… You never get it on the first try.” The guitar takes over fully as the track comes to a close.

The warm guitar returns for “Atop a Cake”. Rankin is girlish and sweet as she starts in, “I lie on the sofa./ I love what you said last night./ I’d like us on top of a cake, but you won’t let me take a bite.” She becomes defiant to his words, knowing how he’s treated her in the past.  “How do I remain apart,/ if you put me in a gown.” She won’t let him drive the relationship. She’s going to be strong and independent of his need to control.

The last track, “Red Planet”, removes Rankin from this man. She admits to still loving him, but knows that he’s hurt her too much to ever be good for her. This is the most morose track on the album. MacLellan’s synth provides a backdrop for her lyrics, with sparse drums dotting the rhythm. “Well, I waited for you out here,/ but that was just delusional.” On her second pass through the chorus, the guitar comes in behind her, highlighting a sad tone in the song.

Alvvays is an excellent album with a great range of musical tone and depth. It is available on iTunes and Spotify. Check it out if you like Best Coast, Surfer Blood, or Cayucas.

 

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News

SGA Restructures as Council

 

The Houghton Student Government Association (SGA) has eliminated senator positions in an effort to build a more efficient representative system. This new Council supplants the Senate. It comes as a reaction to the low enrollment that Houghton has seen over the past few years and decreased participation in the SGA.

Senior, Wynn Horton, executive officer of committees, explains, “Two years ago the Senate and Cabinet of the SGA were the two separate bodies that made up the SGA. This meant each class had 3 representatives, there were 8 general representatives, and then the additional Cabinet members. Last year, we attempted to more accurately represent the ‘representative districts’ on campus by adjusting to a system of dorm and academic department reps.

“After spending most of last year with numerous vacancies and poor efficiency in the Senate structure, they voted to attempt another restructuring – this time much smaller and more consolidated than before. This idea would eliminate the separate Senate and Cabinet structures and create an Executive Council comprised of six generally elected executive officers, four class-elected representatives, a vice president, and a president.”

AnthonyBurdo_SGAThe intent of this restructuring is to increase competition for positions by reducing the supply to match demand. A smaller council will be able to work more effectively because it will not have as much of a need for structural decorum. Members will be able to more easily work out solutions to class issues as well as make decisions on club funding and committees.

While eliminating the senatorial positions, the SGA has created several new and focused positions for the Council. This group oversees all classes through their respective class presidents as well as by direct means. As it stands, it consists of 12 positions: general president and vice President, one president for each class, as well as executive officers of finance, committees, spiritual life, communications, non-traditional students, and student life. Each class president oversees a class cabinet that works to help individual years and puts on class-wide events. The Council also oversees five council committees and 13 committees led by the SGA and the college.

Horton described the role of the SGA in coming years, “As the college grows and determines what form it shall take in the world of higher education, the student government must be prepared to assist in these changes as best they can. It was generally thought to be in the best interest to condense the empty positions and strengthen what remained. Structures will, as the college will, change with time. We can only hope that for now, we have made the decisions that will be the best for not only this student body, but for many to come.”

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Stories In Focus

Houghton Welcomes Eight New Professors

Eight professors are joining Houghton faculty this semester. Newly minted profs. Aikens, Bate, Hutchings, Luebke, Murphy, Poythress, Suzano, and Taylor are all excited to be a part of the school.

Assistant Professor of Physics, Dr. Kurt Aikens finished his undergraduate degree at Houghton in 2009. After which, he attended Purdue University where he earned his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering. “My research interests are in the area of computer simulations of fluid flows and specifically involve improving predictions of – and ultimately reducing – jet engine noise,” said Aikens, “Teaching at the undergraduate level gives me the opportunity to have a more broad educational background and study a wider range of topics. At the same time, I am also able to continue in my area of research. I get the best of both worlds.”

Dr. Brandon Bate joins the mathematics department after a year of postdoctoral research at Tel Aviv University. Like Aikens, Bate is a Houghton graduate, having completed a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science. He received his masters from Boston College in 2007 and his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 2013, both in mathematics. He is married to Juliet Bate, also a 2004 Houghton graduate, and has an exuberant 4 year old son.

Dr. Sarah Hutchings, Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition, takes on a full-time position this year after having served two semesters as an adjunct. Hutchings received her bachelors at Western Carolina University in 2007, masters at Florida State University in 2010, and her doctorate of musical arts at the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in 2013. Asked about her position at Houghton, Hutchings said, “I feel so blessed to be able to work at a place that supports my professional development and gives me the opportunity to instruct the next generation of artists in their craft. But, most importantly, I consider it a calling to show students how God can use them as a witness in their own careers and lives.”

Dr. Adam Luebke has taken on the positions of Associate Professor of Vocal Music and Conducting as well as the Director of Choral Activities. Luebke received a bachelors of music at Olaf College in 2002, masters of music at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in 2004, and Ph.D. at Florida State University in 2010. Luebke has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and Smetana Hall.  Said Luebke, “In the first week of school I’ve really enjoyed getting to know my students, particularly those in College Choir, and learning about how music and faith intersect in their lives.  It was also quite exciting for me to get the year off to a start performing for the opening chapel service.”

Prof. Madison Murphy joins the communication department as Assistant Professor of Media Arts and Visual Communication. Murphy received her bachelors at Houghton in 2011 and her masters in fine arts at Savannah College of Art and Design in 2014. “During this first week of classes I’ve been talking with the students in the lab, and I’m impressed to see the kind of work they’re doing and the enthusiasm they have for that work; a drive to push their skills to the next level,” said Murphy.

Assistant Professor of Biology, Dr. Ransom Poythress received his bachelors from the California Institute of Technology in 2006. Following this, he attended Westminster Theological Seminary as a special student in apologetics and philosophy. He earned his Ph.D. in molecular biology from Boston University in 2013. “My goal is to show students that they are Christians who study science, not scientists who happen to be Christians,” said Poythress, “Houghton provides a real opportunity to transmit my exuberance for biology in a way that is thoroughly consistent with the Christian underpinnings of the entire scientific enterprise.”

Dr. Armenio Suzano, Associate Professor of Music History, hails from Brazil. He played clarinet in the Rio de Janeiro House Symphony Orchestra for 9 years. His term there began after winning a competition and joining as their youngest member at age 16. Upon moving to the U.S., Suzano engaged in multicultural ecclesiastical work with Portuguese-speaking communities in Massachusetts and Spanish-speaking communities in Texas. He received his bachelors at Austin State University in 1997, masters of music at Northwestern University in 1998, and his doctorate of musical arts at the University of Michigan School of Music in 2002.

Prof. Alicia Taylor joins the school as an Assistant Professor of Art. She received her bachelors at Roberts Wesleyan College in 2009, her Certificate in Arts Management and masters of fine arts at SUNY Brockport in 2013. “I am energized by the opportunity to be a part of someone else’s process in finding their voice, within their work and in the world,” said Taylor, “This year, I’m excited to engage with students during this process and foster an environment of freedom, productivity and expression in my classroom through which we can all learn and grow.”

The college is very excited to bring so many new professors on board as it experiences new growth in attendance. As the year begins, be sure to take some time and welcome these professors to Houghton.

 

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News

Campus Highlights Stewardship on Earth Day

This week, Houghton College was invited to celebrate Earth Day. Brian Webb oversaw and organized activities educating students to preserve the livelihood and the health of the planet. Events focused on appreciating and educating students on how best to live in harmony with our terraqueous nursery. They spanned both Earth Day itself–Tuesday, April 22–and the following day.

On Tuesday, the Brown House hosted a lecture titled “Social Justice and the Built Environment.” On Wednesday was hosted both a chapel on environmentalism and a clothing swap.

At the Brown House, Dr. Rusty Pritchard spoke informally about how our constructed world impacts human life and the well being of the poor. Students were invited to interact with Dr. Pritchard who holds a Ph.D. in Resource Economics. He is the founder and president of Flourish, an organization that helps churches tend to humanity through their treatment of the environment.

TEarthday2_CMYKhe chapel, also led by Dr. Rusty Pritchard, took a lighthearted yet focused approach to the christian imperative of environmentalism. He opened the talk joking, “Let me take a few minutes to make you feel guilty.” Growing up, Dr. Pritchard saw environmentalists as “Debbie Downers,” disliking their fatalistic view of the world. He discovered, however, that they instead understood the effects of their actions at a distance in the context of the environment.

Dr. Pritchard demonstrated the convergence of environmentalism and Christianity. As the environment affects those who live off its fruits – all people, but most notably the impoverished – so too does our damage to environment affect them. In this light, environmentalism is an issue of social justice. Instead of embracing the judgement and blame that often comes from environmentalism, he encouraged Christians to care for creation as an act of compassion for humanity.

The clothing swap was coordinated by junior Hanna Kahler, one of the college’s Eco-Reps. This is the first year that Houghton has Eco-Reps. The program selects students who are interested to help promote a mindset of sustainability to their peers, led by Webb.

“The clothing swap idea came about because it’s something that my little sister and I have done with our friends before, and so I thought that it would be a fun thing to do on a college-wide level. It was my Eco-Rep project this year and has come about with a lot of help from friends and other Eco-Reps.” said Kahler.

In early April, bins were placed in each dorm in which students were encouraged to drop items of clothing that they no longer needed or wanted. On Wednesday, the clothes were set out in the basement of the Campus Center. Anyone was free to take as they pleased from the collection. The remaining clothes were donated to a local clothing shelter for the poor.

 

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Stories In Focus

Science Honors Tackles Climate Change

In Paine 212, there are 11 students working to analyze and learn more about climate change. They are the selected members of Houghton College Science Honors.

This year’s Science Honors Program is centered around learning about climate change while collecting data to add to the compendium of research on the topic. At the same time, students also study the humanities through the lens of science.

Science_Honors_2_Rachel.McClatcheyThe course incorporates two foci of research, the primary being to design and build a radiosonde. A radiosonde is a box of sensors that records atmospheric data and sends it by radio to students on the ground. It will be attached to a weather balloon and sent into the upper atmosphere when the students launch this May.

The secondary focus is researching the effect of climatic variation on fish. Using chillers, the students will alter the temperature of their aquaria to simulate forecasted climate change. They will then measure cortisol levels in the fish compared to the water temperature. This will attempt to measure the survivability of fish in the altered climatic state of the future.

Students will also record the rate of melting of the ice at local lakes over the next few weeks. “This is the beginning of a long data set that we will be trying to collect. A lot of people are doing this all over the world,” explained biology professor Dr. Wolfe, “We’ll also be taking representative shrubs and trees on campus and we’ll be measuring when they start to leaf out and flower.”

To tackle the task of building a radiosonde, the students have split into three groups. These being so named Sparkles, Maple Leaf, and The Flying Monkeys. Each has its own hypothesis it is looking to test. Team Sparkles is working to find out how the amount of UV radiation absorbed by the ozone layer affects temperature in the stratosphere. Team Maple Leaf is collecting data on how the concentration of carbon dioxide changes as altitude increases. The Flying Monkeys is researching the levels of infrared light that is absorbed by the atmosphere at each altitude.

Each group will build their own system to attach to a weather balloon. They will be programmed to record data relevant to what the students are testing and send it to them while in flight.

When they are not investigating the science of climate change, the students of Science Honors have been able to take trips relevant to their studies. Last semester, they took a trip to Canandaigua Lake to study glacial recession, took a boat cruise, and ate grape pies on the way back home. They went ice fishing on Cuba Lake earlier this semester. Right before spring break, they visited the oldest fish hatchery in the western hemisphere in Caledonia, NY.

These trips are designed to grow the students’ understanding of science and the world around them, but they also serve to unite them in a bond of camaraderie. “I will never forget the day in Science Honors on our way home from Canandaigua Lake when Dr. Wolfe bought us grape pies. We sat in the grass surrounding a Dollar General parking lot and chatted together as we ate our dessert. The adventures that we encounter on field trips: priceless!” said honors student Olivia Morse.

Another student, Ruthanna Wantz, said, “One of the most unexpected fun things about being in Science Honors has been hanging out with prospectives when they come for the interview weekends. And hearing the stories of the upperclassmen who were in Science Honors before.”

Though challenging, the students enjoy accomplishing tasks that get them closer to their goals. Said student Jordan Scott, “Science Honors has been a very enjoyable experience thus far. I have made 10 great new friends and developed relationships with three professors from different science disciplines that I never imagined I would have had when coming to college. This program has helped me further my thinking in all aspects of science and created a unique culture for learning through experience with assistance from professors and peers.”

The students have been very successful in working in a new and more flexible scientific environment. Guided by professors rather than fed knowledge, they are beginning to emulate the methods they will use when working as scientists in the future. Dr. Brandon Hoffman applauds their efforts, “It has been great to see the students getting excited about their projects. Some have charged far ahead, downloading manuals and developing systems they believe will be helpful to their project.”

The students have been recording their scientific adventures and discoveries in a blog at balloon2014.blogspot.com. They encourage all who have an interest in science to follow them as they prepare to launch their balloons during Mayterm this year.

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Stories In Focus

Torraca-in’ Her Way to Tenure

Dr. Karen Torraca has pulled more all-nighters as a professor than she ever did as a student. This semester, they paid off. She was recently awarded tenure after six-and-a-half years at Houghton.

Tenure is recognition of a professor as an integral part their institution. Dr. Torraca’s tenure solidifies her relationship with Houghton College. She has come a long way to earn it.

Long before her professorship, Torraca came to Houghton as a student trying to get out of Delaware. “I’m the youngest of four kids; I’m the only girl,” she stated flatly. By the time she had finished high school, she was ready to leave home and go somewhere new.

TorracaFor Torraca, Houghton was a perfect undergrad choice. It was the furthest her father would allow her to get away from home. Her uncle was a professor of physics at the college. It had a reputable science and math program. Also, it was small enough that she could still play the sports that she held so dearly.

Coming to Houghton in 1989, she pursued an interest in both math and science while playing on the field hockey team. The outlet of sports allowed her to get away from her studies and keep her mind fresh. In her first year at the college, she wasn’t sure what discipline she should follow. By her sophomore year, her love of organic chemistry made the answer clear. She made a pact with herself. If she could make it through the year and enjoy chemistry, she would stick with it.

Having survived the semester still keen on the subject, she made her decision. She declared as a chemistry major with the help of her advisor, Dr. Christensen.

In her junior year, she began dating her future husband. He was an english major – a year younger than her.

Between her junior and senior years, she took an internship at Dow Chemical. She loved the experience of working in an industrial environment. She was ready to go to grad school and get out into the field as soon as she could. Yet, the journey would not prove to be so simple.

As her Senior year ended, she was set for a slot at the University of Florida. Pressure from those above her made her feel that she had to attend grad school right away. She was hesitant. Struck by illness and worry about her ability to handle a long-distance relationship, her gut told her not to go.

In the midst of this struggle, a friend of her now husband reached out to her. “They said to me ‘You know, if you don’t go to grad school, if you take a year off, and you end up not going to grad school. Maybe you weren’t supposed to go.’,” she recounted, “All of a sudden, a lightbulb went off.” She concluded that she would defer a year before attending graduate school. Now the challenge came in the execution of such a plan.

She nervously called the University of Florida and spoke to an admissions counselor. Having not known what to expect, she was surprised at how accommodating the school was with her deference. Adding to that, the school’s waiting list for married housing happened to be about a year long, making it a perfect fit for the couple.

The deftness with which these plans fell together seemed unthinkable at the time. However, when she looks back, Torraca said it all makes sense to her, “In hindsight, when I was hitting my head against the wall, I needed to realize that maybe that’s not where God’s leading right away.”

Torraca spent the year living with her husband only a few houses down from the home they live in today. They had married in July of 1993 after deciding to do so only three months earlier. While her husband finished undergrad, she worked as a custodian and tutored for organic chemistry in the evenings.

In Autumn of 1994, she began attending the University of Florida. While being at a large school was a change from her roots at Houghton, she found that the work ethic she developed here provided a seamless transition. After five years studying organometallic chemistry – how metals interact with organic compounds – she had earned her PhD. Finally, she could get out of academia and into the real world.

“God had other things in store,” she said, nodding wistfully. Her advisor recommended that she do postdoctoral research. As much as she did not want to, a poor economy and dearth of industrial jobs led Torraca to accept her advice.

She went on to do research at MIT in the laboratory of Steve Buchwald. Two years later, she had finished her research and was ready to begin interviewing for jobs. After many interviews with companies who wanted her, she decided on Eli Lilly and Company.

The plant she would be working at was in Lafayette, Indiana. She and her husband moved there having never lived off of the East Coast. The experience was new, but rewarding. She remembers,””I felt guilty for earning money doing what I did because I just loved it so much.”

After several years of working her dream job, she got a call from Dr. Irmgard Howard, Professor of Chemistry at her alma mater. She was offered a job at Houghton and promptly answered, “No”. However, in the weeks following, she and her husband talked the offer over. They prayed about it together and began to reconsider. She thought it might be better for their family to be in the environment that Houghton offered, even if that meant taking a pay cut to do so.

Torraca always felt that one day she would teach. It was the profession of both her parents and a passion of her’s to mentor. She came to Houghton in 2007. It was a rough first year. She had no experience teaching before Houghton. She was suddenly thrown into a unknown territory: selecting textbooks, writing notes, and creating exams. At the same time, she had to develop a series of labs to parallel the coursework. Thankfully, her advisor from her undergraduate years, Dr. Christensen, was still in the community. She tapped him and her graduate advisor to help her develop notes for organic chemistry. She expresses great respect for those students who labored with her through the first year. Now, almost seven years later, she has fully reined in professorship. She understands how to cultivate learning in her classes, as well as in the lives of her students.

She is often lauded for both her work in academics and her joyful spirit. “Dr. Torraca is incredibly knowledgeable in her field of study. Her organic chemistry classes are very fast-paced and packed with a lot of information.” Sophomore David Tse stated, continuing,”Students in the past have said that the MCAT chemistry sections are a breeze after taking Organic Chemistry from her. She is usually in her office and is always willing to provide explanations for homework or life advice.” Junior Jina Libby added, “One time, I was studying for finals in the science building, and she and her kids came in with a tray of homemade crème puffs to give away to the students.”

She will oftentimes have students plop themselves down in her office and begin a conversation with, “This has nothing to do with school.” Dr. Torraca sees these four years as a formative time for her students. They are trying to define the world through a new perspective. In some cases, she can see organic chemistry acting as the first barrier that students hit, forcing them to stop and reconsider the path that they are taking. She enjoys mentoring them through these times and hopes that she can help them discover something about themselves.

Having thought back on her past few years and where she has ended up, Torraca reflected,”I’m amazed at the places that God has led and allowed us to be.” She looks forward to a future at Houghton: teaching and learning from her students, having them over for dinner at the end of each year, and going into each new year watching the light bulb moments that flash in their eyes when something clicks. This is why she teaches.